UAL Extended Diploma in Illustration & Animation student Libby Hughes, 16 years old from Stockton, is the recipient of the Catalyst Conference Young Volunteer of the Year award!

BCT Aspire is a community focused non-profit organisation for children and young people in the Stockton area that aims to raise aspirations of children and young people within their community, widen participation in positive recreational activity, reduce levels of anti-social behaviour & youth crime, address low levels of young people who are not in education, training or employment, promote community cohesion between people of all ages and develop training, work experience and employment opportunities through their networks.

Speaking of the charity Libby said “BCT aspire is a youth organisation that has been opening their doors for young people for over 20 years allowing them to take part in a variation of youth club sessions each week. Before I began volunteering at BCT I used to attend one of their youth club sessions myself on a Wednesday evening, after attending for around 2 years I was offered the place to become a young volunteer.”

She continued that “during this time I support their two weekly youth club sessions on a Wednesday and Thursday evening and often daily morning sessions in half terms and school holidays. I have also been involved in the Stockton SIRF carnival with BCT in August 2024.”

Libby was recognised for her commitment to her volunteering, at the Catalyst Conference Awards this year. The Catalyst Conference and Awards highlights those involved in the voluntary community and social enterprise sector in Stockton-on-Tees. Libby said, “BCT had nominated me for this award, and I only found out I had been nominated when I was informed that I was a finalist. Four weeks later I attended the ceremony with staff from BCT and I was called out as the winner of the award and it was definitely a shock, and I found it very nervous walking up to the stage, but I felt very proud of myself.”

She said that volunteering is “is a great way to use your spare time as it doesn’t only benefit the lives of others but I found that it definitely benefited me as it feels rewarding knowing that I am able to help young people. Even if it’s just having a chat with someone every week and offering a safe space for them to talk about any struggles, worries, or even just how their day at school went can make a great change.”

Libby studies on our illustration diploma at our college-level campus in Middlesbrough, speaking of her course she said “I absolutely love this course and the friends I’ve made in it, I really enjoy being around like-minded creative people and being able to study what I’m most interested in every day. My next step after college is to carry on to university and be able hopefully to still take part volunteering with BCT when I can.”

When asked if her time volunteering with BCT had impacted her college experience she commented, “BCT has given me skills that have benefited me in college, mainly socially as talking with people during youth sessions has made it easier for me to approach and talk to people at college and make friends, before volunteering this was a personal struggle of mine.”

If you are interested in finding out more about BCT Aspire make sure you check out their website. If you are interested in studying illustration and animation at college level make sure you check out our diploma course here.